"The Walking Dead" devoured its competition on Sunday night with its season 4 opener becoming the highest rated episode among young adult viewers this season.

Some 16.1 million viewers tuned into AMC to set a series record . The show about a zombie apocalypse also drew 10.4 million young adults, ages 18 to 49, making it the top show that advertiser-coveted demographic. (The numbers do not included delayed viewers).

In comparison, the much-hyped series finale of AMC’s “Breaking Bad” on Sept. 29 drew 10.3 million total viewers and 6.7 million viewers in the young adult demographic.

Prior Sunday's broadcast, the No. 1 show among 18- to 49-year-olds this season had been the season premiere CBS' sitcom "The Big Bang Theory," which drew 9.8 million in that demographic – including delayed viewing.

"Sincere thanks to the fans, who have welcomed 'The Walking Dead' back for its fourth season with the highest-rated episode in the show's history," AMC President Charlie Collier says in a statement accompanying the ratings announcement. "We could not be more proud of this show and everyone on both sides of the camera who work so hard to give life to this story of character, leadership and survival."